Building multi-system nexuses in low-carbon transitions: Conflicts and asymmetric adjustments in Norwegian ferry electrification
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Building multi-system nexuses in low-carbon transitions : Conflicts and asymmetric adjustments in Norwegian ferry electrification. / Andersen, Allan Dahl; Geels, Frank W.; Steen, Markus; Bugge, Markus M.
In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol. 120, No. 47, e2207746120, 2023.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Building multi-system nexuses in low-carbon transitions
T2 - Conflicts and asymmetric adjustments in Norwegian ferry electrification
AU - Andersen, Allan Dahl
AU - Geels, Frank W.
AU - Steen, Markus
AU - Bugge, Markus M.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - While nexus research in sustainability science has investigated the consequences of connected systems, it has paid less attention to the processes of building nexuses which is becoming increasingly important in low-carbon transitions because these often require the creation of new connections between multiple consumption-production systems. Building on multi-system research in the sustainability transitions literature, this paper introduces a conceptual system interface perspective on nexus-building which considers four dimensions (technology, actors, institutions, and resources) that are useful for analyzing nexus-building dynamics. We apply our framework to the case of electrification of ferries in Norway which requires the building of a new interface between the electricity system and the maritime transport system. The case study shows that the system interface was initially characterized by conflicts and tensions in all dimensions, which actors then attempted to resolve through cross-system intermediation and adjustment activities. These activities were asymmetrical because of differences in external pressures, urgency, unequal power relationships, and different degrees of interest in cross-system nexus building. Because important tensions remained unresolved, ferry actors started implementing sub-optimal workaround solutions in the diffusion phase.
AB - While nexus research in sustainability science has investigated the consequences of connected systems, it has paid less attention to the processes of building nexuses which is becoming increasingly important in low-carbon transitions because these often require the creation of new connections between multiple consumption-production systems. Building on multi-system research in the sustainability transitions literature, this paper introduces a conceptual system interface perspective on nexus-building which considers four dimensions (technology, actors, institutions, and resources) that are useful for analyzing nexus-building dynamics. We apply our framework to the case of electrification of ferries in Norway which requires the building of a new interface between the electricity system and the maritime transport system. The case study shows that the system interface was initially characterized by conflicts and tensions in all dimensions, which actors then attempted to resolve through cross-system intermediation and adjustment activities. These activities were asymmetrical because of differences in external pressures, urgency, unequal power relationships, and different degrees of interest in cross-system nexus building. Because important tensions remained unresolved, ferry actors started implementing sub-optimal workaround solutions in the diffusion phase.
KW - electrification
KW - low-carbon transition
KW - maritime transport
KW - multi-system interaction
KW - Nexus building
U2 - 10.1073/pnas.2207746120
DO - 10.1073/pnas.2207746120
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 37956281
AN - SCOPUS:85176880707
VL - 120
JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 47
M1 - e2207746120
ER -
ID: 374309773